Memories fill houses and turn them into homes where singles, couples, and families can have a place to put down their roots. While photos of our most memorable vacations charm and please our friends and families, it can, unfortunately, make selling our homes more difficult. When potential buyers see a home that specifically caters to a particular family, mostly through photos, they have a difficult time visualizing themselves fitting into the mold. The easiest way to fix this problem is to hire a home staging company to transform your home back into a beautiful house to be viewed by all potential buyers and eventually sold to a new family to make memories in. [Read more…]
Is Your Home’s Value Decreasing?
Here are some key things that seriously pull down your home’s value.
#1. Poor curb appeal.
If you’re planning on selling your house you need to know that the very first impression a buyer is going to see is the exterior of your home. Most MLS cover photos of the listing need to either be the front of the house or the view from the house. Chances are, most people are going to take a picture of the outside of the house so this is the first impression buyers will see of the property. It’s important to make your homes curb appeal stand out and attract buyers in further. Clean up the yard, trim trees, bushes, shrubs, mow the lawn, and repair any unsightly flaws to the outside of the house such as leaky windows, broken steps, or cracked sidewalks. [Read more…]
Buying a Home in 2017? Start Now
If 2017 is the year you are going to be a homeowner or perhaps you’re going to sell your house and purchase a new one, start now before you’re even looking at any homes.
Let’s start with first-time homebuyers; if you’ve never purchased a property before but you’re tired of renting in 2017 is your year to be a homeowner, start now, immediately, by saving up some money and getting your credit in good condition. [Read more…]
5 Ways You Can Protect Your Credit Score
Protecting Your Credit Score
Your credit score; that magical little number that tells lenders how big of a risk you are when they take you on as a borrower. It can literally mean the difference of getting a loan or not. Your credit score can also affect your interest rate and how much you’ll be paying monthly in a mortgage payment or any type of loan. You’ll want to protect your credit score and increase it if possible and here are some ways to do that.
[Read more…]
Buying Strategies for San Ramon Real Estate
Sarn Ramon is a great place to call home and as the Tri-Valley area grows more and more new communities pop up all the time. Finding a home may be easy; finding the right home is the tricky part. I want to make your home-buying experience something to remember – in a good way, of course. I am a dedicated buyer’s agent in the Tri-Valley area helping folks find the right home at the right price on their own terms. [Read more…]
5 Things that Turn Off Home Buyers
When selling your home the last thing you want to do just turn off of a potential homebuyer. I mean, you are probably doing everything you can to appeal to the vast majority of homebuyers out there. You’ve cleaned, swept, maybe even done some home improvement projects but if you’ve done these five things or your home has these five things, you may be turning off homebuyers and not even know it. Here are five things that completely make homebuyers run for the hills.
#1. Animals.
I’m sure that you love your animals, whatever they may be, but many homebuyers may be allergic or simply not like animals. It also depends on what type of animal you have. If the first thing homebuyers see when they walk through the front door is a giant aquarium with an enormous live snake, they may turn right around and not even get past the front entrance. Dogs, cats, and a fish tank maybe one thing, even though homebuyers may be allergic. Many people can look past the simple dog or cat but even if you have these domestic pets, it’s best to take them out of the house and any and all evidence that they exist before a showing. If you have something more exotic such as a rabbit, bird, small rodent, reptile or another type of animal, it may be best to remove them completely while your home is on the market.
[Read More: How to Market a Luxury Home in the Bay Area]
#2. Trophies.
This might be any type of trophy including a dead animal head on the wall. But, people also don’t want to see bookcases filled with sports trophies, awards or other items as they mean nothing to the homebuyer and only detract from the look and ambiance of the room.
#3. Flags.
I know, I know, we are getting into a solution society where sometimes even the American flag can turn people off but I’m not saying that you should take down your American flag if it’s on a pole in the front yard. However, I have run across several homes that you may have a teenagers room with a swastika flag on the wall, Confederate flag or maybe something as simple as a sports flag from a team that the homebuyer hates. Simply best to put anything that might give away the homeowner’s personal beliefs whether it’s political, religious or even sports related away until the home sells.
[Related Post: 5 Simple Tricks to Make Your Home Look Like a 5-Star Resort]
#4. Nudity.
Nothing is more uncomfortable than walking into a house where there are naked pictures of people on the wall. I’m not even kidding, we have walked into homes with naked baby pictures on the wall, erotic pictures, and wallpaper patterns with nude women. Anything that is remotely offensive should be removed. You never know when kids, families or people that are simply offended by this will be touring your home. You don’t want them to quickly leave and never return.
#5. Too many substances.
This could go for a lot of different things; cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, pills etc. Homebuyers don’t want to see your vice, regardless of whether it’s prescribed or not. It gives an uneasy vibe to the house regardless of whether items are legal or not.
[Read More: Here’s What to Do When Your House Isn’t Selling]
These are on things but we wouldn’t be talking about them if we hadn’t come across them at some point. The best way to set your home up for the majority of homebuyers is to have your real estate agent go through the house offering tips, suggestions and advice for each room before listing and marketing the property.
Would you like to set that up? Give us a call today and I’d be happy to set up a listing presentation to find out how much your home is worth and how quickly it could sell. [Article adapted from Bankrate.com]
Baby Boomers Buying Houses in the Tri-Valley
Baby Boomers are Buying in California’s Tri-Valley area more and more.
Good idea or scary move?
It all depends on where you are in life, financially and physically. Should you downsize or invest? Move out or move up? These can be a lot of scary questions as baby boomers hit their retirement age. You may have made a lot of money over the past 30 years but with the drop in home prices over the last 8 years you may have lost a lot of it too. So where does that leave real estate investments today?
Many baby boomers have actually been delaying retirement for the basic fact that selling and downsizing just isn’t an option. They may owe more than the home is worth and this keeps them hanging onto it until it bounces back. Well, it has. Maybe not with the vengeance some would like but stronger certainly than we have seen in the past 4 years. The number of existing homes sold is up about 8% nationwide according to the S&P and prices have reached over 12% higher than they were this time last year. So now baby boomers are toying with the idea of selling or renting out and downsizing. Which is the best option and which makes the most sense financially? – How to Choose the Right Lender
[Related Post: Do Tiny Homes Make Good Retirement options?]
Generally speaking, we know it’s better to own than rent but that’s usually if you are going to stay in your home more than 5 years. Is that something baby boomers want to consider at this time? It all comes down to ease of living which has many implications as far as maintenance, finances and responsibility. If age 65 is no longer the retirement age, keeping a home or investing in new real estate may be well within the realm of possibility for baby boomers. Buying a new home is sometimes a strain on the cash flow, not just in the down payment but in monthly taxes, insurance, fees and the mortgage payment. Even if buyers plan on paying cash, they must consider the inevitable costs associated with owning real estate. One smart plan may be to buy a good rental investment, live in it for a while, and then rent it out when you are ready to move on. The equity remains and collects while the retirees are off enjoying the freedom.
[5 Things to Know Before Buying a “For Sale By Owner” House]
So what makes the most sense for you? It really comes down to all the many variables associated with your specific retirement plan. I would love to talk to you about the options that might work when it comes to real estate in San Ramon, Pleasanton, Danville or Dublin. Call me today and let’s talk.
How to Choose the Right Lender
When it comes time to shopping for a mortgage, I would strongly encourage you to start with a local and trusted lender. – Jonathan Fox – Washington Post
You can’t get any clearer than that.Big business, large corporations, and big banks have been selling and buying mortgages for decades but when it comes to the individual homebuyer, going local, and going personal is always best.
It’s surprising how little value many homeowners, especially first-time homeowners, put into shopping around for the best home loan. They should be just as careful about this process as they are the home itself. However, many people simply go with whomever the real estate agent suggested or the local bank. While this might work out just fine, you can really benefit from shopping around for the best loan, the best rate, and the best terms. These really do change and you want to make sure that the lender knows you are shopping around. People get competitive when they know that they have others to compete against.
Terms, interest rates and details of a mortgage loan are not always set in stone. You would be surprised at what you can actually negotiate with. Everything is important when it comes to dealing with contracts including inspections, timelines and of course who you are dealing with.
Mortgages in today’s society are getting easier but we still need to be cautious about applying for the right home loan and only applying for a mortgage we can actually afford. In order to avoid a housing bubble burst, living within our means is really the key to maintaining our home and living comfortably with the mortgage we have.
Large banks, credit unions, and even hometown banks can be a great partner in managing basic financial details such as your checking and savings accounts or even credit cards. But when it comes to borrowing money for a large purchase such as a house, finding a mortgage officer the deal specifically with this type of loan is essential to getting the best rate.
Competitiveness also plays a big factor in getting the right loan for your needs. Shop around to a couple of different loan officers or mortgage brokers as well as your own bank or credit union. Find out what terms you can expect and different programs that different mortgage brokers can provide. Housing markets are competitive so lender should be as well.
Terms and price are not the only factors when it comes to choosing the right lender. Large banks that have multiple mortgage officers can tend to bog down the system, extending out timelines and deadlines that could cost you your home. Individual and private mortgage lenders and personal loan officers have more invested in the game, so that are more likely to pay attention to timelines and get things done in a timely fashion.
It’s Okay to shop around. Don’t worry about your credit getting hit. Having the loan officer run the numbers for you and then offer you the best plan and wait for your needs is essential to getting the right loan and saving you as much money as possible.
Feel free to give me a call as I have a lot of mortgage lenders in the Bay area and the Tri-Valley area that might work for you. Remember, shop around to get the best loan and the best deal for your needs.
Marketing a Luxury Home in the Bay Area
If you plan to sell your luxury home or high-end property there are some keys to marketing this type of real estate. While it is much the same as any other traditional sale, there are some nuances that makes luxury home selling and buying slightly different. Here are five keys to marketing and selling your luxury home in California’s Bay area.
#1. Try not to use “undisclosed location”.
Many luxury homeowners prefer not to have their address mentioned in an MLS listing or marketed online, but if you want the most eyes on your property, having the location shown or the general area or community mentioned gives people an idea of where the home is, it’s relation to other communities, and it’s close proximity to homes, schools or modern conveniences. Not all luxury homeowners have the “celebrity status” that really require an undisclosed address on MLS listings.
]Related Post: 10 Pre-Inspection Checks for all Homeowners]
#2. Don’t skimp on quality photos.
Your luxury real estate agent should hire a professional photographer to take excellent photos of the property at different times of the day and in a different light. You certainly want quality over quantity and because over 90% of homebuyers begin their search online, those photographs of your home must be worth 1 million words, not just the thousand. It truly pays to pay for good photos of your listing.
#3. Emphasize unique features.
If the home is in a country club that offers unique amenities and features make sure that you mention these in the listing. Do homeowners have access to a variety of perks for living in the community? Make sure that all buyers understand what type of status, location and amenities they receive when purchasing this home. Does the home itself have unique features such as a wine cellar, theater room, master suite or library? Emphasize the uniqueness of the home and why someone would want to pay top dollar for this property.
#4. Additional marketing.
As with any traditional sale, good marketing is key but with luxury home listings additional marketing is vital. Not only should your real estate agent provide print advertising and direct mailing but Internet, search engine optimization, social media and exposure of the photographs are crucial to getting a wide range of homebuyers interested in the property. A good real estate agent will also market to potential luxury buyers agents so that the right luxury homebuyer is matched with the property.
#5. Pricing it correctly.
Pricing a luxury home is a little bit different if there’s not a lot of comparable properties nearby. Paying for an appraisal ahead of time might be key to pricing it correctly and getting the right market value. Knowing every amenity a luxury home provides is crucial when determining the price and comparing it to other luxury homes. This takes the knowledge and experience of a qualified and dedicated luxury real estate broker.
For more information on selling your luxury home in San Fransico or the Tri-Valley areas, please contact me at any time. We can run over some numbers, offer suggestions on marketing and listing your home and determine the best approach for selling your luxury home.
5 Home Nightmares Buyers Don’t Think About Until They Need to Sell
Buying a house with the idea of selling it isn’t usually something most homebuyers think about when browsing properties and looking through listings. However, there are things that you might not think about as being bothersome as a homeowner but could be someone else’s nightmare when it comes time to sell. Here are five resale issues many buyers don’t think about when purchasing property.
#1. Power lines.
Myths, perceptions and superstitions carry enough weight to make a buyer back out. Power lines are one of those issues. You might not have considered power lines being a problem when you moved in but many people feel that living too close to high-voltage power lines could make them sick or even give them cancer. However, there has been no research found that supports this claim. However, perception is an issue and if people don’t like power lines, you may have a heckuva time selling your home if you live close by. You might want to consider this before purchasing a property close to high-voltage power lines.
#2. Close to a business.
This is a tricky one; studies have shown that homes close to a Starbucks or Trader Joe’s actually increase in value but being too close could have the opposite effect. Living close to a grocery store that gets its deliveries all night long could be a nightmare for people trying to sleep. Businesses can be loud and disruptive so take this into consideration when purchasing a home close to just about any type of business.
#3. New subdivisions and developments.
This again might not seem like an issue at all. Many homebuyers love brand-new properties but, they can also be a drawback if the development is still being constructed. Construction noise, construction workers, large trucks and dangerous equipment could be a drawback to many potential buyers. If you’re planning on buying and then selling within a couple of years, you might face a lot of problems, especially if the subdivision is still being developed. Many buyers will simply go to a brand-new home in the development rather than a resale home in the same neighborhood.
#4. Privacy.
It’s important to consider privacy when purchasing a home and how future buyers would perceive it as well. A home that backs to a busy road or highway might be private but you also have to deal with the noise. Some buyers prefer a long, private drive but this can also have it’s issues with safety; a well-lighted neightborhood may seem much safer than a dark and quiet road.
#5. Environmental issues.
This all depends on where you are located, but things to consider would be a home in a forest it area could run the risk of forest fires or downed trees during windstorms; and exposed home with no trees and a west facing backyard that gets blisteringly hot in the summer. These are subtle features for sure, but they can be a big deal once you’ve lived there for a while.
It’s not my job to choose the home for the buyer but I do want them to know that if they purchase a home with an unchangeable adverse situation, it could potentially sell for less than similar homes. Buying with the idea of selling can help you make a wise decision not only now but for your future.
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